I remember the days when to catch one fish was enough and I was enthralled by its beauty. Some times when fishing in Cheesman Canyon I can "return" to those former days and appreciate the beauty of just one fish that I can gently grasp in my hands and release. If I am not content with one, I doubt I will be content with 20 or 40 fish. One is enough.
i TOTALLY AGREE WITH YOU. THE JOY OF BEING ON THE RIVER, TAKING IN THE BEAUTY OF NATURE AROUND YOU, THE BIRDS, THE ROCK FORMATIONS AND THE SOUND OF WATER. I BELIEVE WHAT HAPPENS TO A LOT OF FISHER-FOLKS IS THAT THEY BEGIN TO CATCH MORE FISH AND CATCHING FISH BECOMES AN OBSESSION TO CATCH MORE. REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST STARTED, FISH ALL DAY AND CATCH NOTING, THAN WE SLOWLY BEGAN TO CATCH MORE AND MORE FISH. FIRST WE WERE HAPPY JUST TO LOOK UNDER THE ROCKS OR SINE THE WATER TO SEE WHAT THE FISH MIGHT BE EATING, THAN WE WANTED TO PUMP THE THE FISH'S STOMACH TO SEE WHAT IT WAS REALLY EATING, ALL TO CATCH MORE FISH.
ReplyDeleteI LOVE THE ANTICIPATION OF A STRIKE AS THE LINE DRIFTS DOWN A RIFFLE. AS SOON AS I CAN SEE WHAT I HAVE CAUGHT AND WHICH HOOK THE FISH TOOK, I DIP MY ROD INTO THE WATER, THANK THE FISH AND HOPE FOR A SELF-RELEASE.